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Author
Topic: Starting Meds Today! (Read 17986 times)

I`ve just been to Dr. Yebraīs office. My counts were pretty good: CD4: 503/25% and the viral load very high: 80.000.He said we could wait another 3 months and see but I decided to start meds today. The Dr. agreed immediately.So here I am with my 4 month prescription and a one month supply.I am a bit scared but it has been my decision. Wish me luck with the treatment.

Best of luck with your meds. I started with these too -- the side effects weren't bad -- just some weird dreams and grogginess. I hope you are planning on a couple of days off -- to adjust to the Sustiva. I had no diarrhea issues, but I do take fiber supplements, so who knows if I would have had any. Fiber is a good way to help avoid it (not foolproof, I'm sure).

My BF was on a similiar combo (except he did Viread and Epivir instead of Viread and Emtriva/Truvada). The first two weeks were a bit uncomfortable. He complained of being dizzie and having vivid dreams. Those side effects mostly went away after two weeks, although it still makes him drowsy when he takes it (at night).

Good luck! Finally you will kill almost every unit of this stupid virus. Tonight will be the first round of his genocide... eh eh . I hope that everything be OK. Secondary effects wont last...Tell us how it is going...

You said it wisely, Juan: it's your decision, hence you're in complete control of you! The first week on sustiva was an interesting one for me - you may want to keep a little log of your thoughts, feelings, etc. as you progress through treatment. If not always useful for medical purposes, it's great to have a resoure permitting you to reflect back - at least, I have found this to be the case.

Adhere as much as possible to your daily dosing regimen and you should find that VL number coming down toward undetectable!

Thank you very much for your support! Nadine, Eric, Mike, Ray, Cliff, Madalena and Nuno (sweet couple), Bartro, Teresa, David, MspSpud, Christine, Mark, Alex, Kelly (I believe!), Wellington and all the others that read this post. I couldnīt sleep last night thinking about what to say to convince my Dr. to start meds. But it was very easy. I just I said: " I want to start today". He said: "OK". So I spent a night of useless worries...I was so happy when he said "OK"!In 4 and a half hours Iīll be taking my first dose (at 23.30).I will keep you informed.Again...Thank you, thank you, thank you!All of you make me feel I am not alone in the new life I am about to start. Today is the first day of the rest of my life on antiretrovirals!Hugs, Kisses and Love!

I know some on here will think I'm nuts, but I'm kind of jealous that I've never gotten to experience the Sustiva dreams. I had the 103 mutation right off the bat, so Sustiva - no go. I want to hear about that aspect of it.

If I were to start all over again, I'd consider doing a little journal to describe how you feel now, energy-wise, mentally and whatever else. Use the same parameters and compare how it's effected you a week from now, a month and so on... better/worse or un-noticed. I think that would be interesting.

Well i had this nice message typed out, and then hit the wrong button and *poof!* it was gone. (My apologies if it shows up here someplace.)

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I started on this combo back in February, 2006 and have had few side effects. Just a slight rash on my arms (not itchy), and this went away in less than two weeks. No really vivid Sustiva dreams for me either, unfortunately.

The only effect I can feel is the "stoned" feeling I get about an hour after I take the meds. Of course this is probably made worse because mi espOSO has dinner prepared for me at 2330 every night when I get home from work. So I rarely follow the instructions to take on an empty stomach.

I'm sure you'll do fine. My one piece of advice is to take several pills and place them in various locations so you'll not be caught away from home without meds. For example in a car, backpack, trusted friend's home, overnight bag, etc.

It's a good combo for me...my VL went from 303,000 to <50 within 6 weeks and has remained there so far.

For best possible results, on my first dose, I stood on one leg, put my other leg behind my head then spun around 3 times screaming "ARV ARV ALL THE WAY" then landed on my knees, put one hand high in the air and the other tossing all 7 pills in my mouth.. Then a big "Whoo OOOO.... THE FIGHT IS ON YOU RAT BASTARD FUCKER" - Of course I spit some of my pills out on the F word and sounded like a six month old baby with a mouth full of marbles.. WTF...

I don't know, it worked for me...

Linoleum is a good surface for the spinning thing if you go my route...Unbrella is optional and highly hazardous while spinning..

Sanctioned by the L.G.B.S.M.I. or "Little Girls Balarina School of the Mentally Insane"

I am on the same combo. Had some rough spots sleeping, but now take them in the morning. If you would like to have an interesting day of slight dizziness, and a general brain FOG I would definitely try them during the day. Otherwise, nighttime is the best time!

Good luck, they have worked WONDERS on me, 729 CD and Undectable.

Logged

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

I've been on that combo (my first) since Sept 2004, and except for really vivid dreams the first couple of nights, I've had virtually zero side effects. Best of all, it works! My CD4s and VL were MUCH worse than yours are, and I'm doing terrific now. I know others are having the same good results. Just don't miss any doses and take em before going to bed -- that's worked for me. Good luck!

I wish you the best. I too saw my doc today and got my prescription for Atripla, and like you I'm borderline and could wait 3 more months but it just seems like it's time. I'll start on sunday as I have mondays off.

Juan, I wish you the best. I think you made the right decision. I'm convinced that starting sooner rather than later is going to have a benefit in the long run. And I have very little side effects from the Sustiva. Haven't been on Truvada so I don't know about that. Hope you continue to feel just like your own self with nothing negative to report. And as has already been mentioned... your virus has had it now....

Good Morning!!! How was your night? Say how are you? nuno is on his countdown to start meds and his excited to know everything... I'm sure that you're all right although with a smaller quantity of hiv in your body...

Well, well...what can I say... I just woke up an hour ago. Yes at 11.00. I slept for 10 hours. Sustiva is the best sleeping pill ever. I was sitting in front of the computer and had to switch it off suddenly. I felt as if I was going to fall asleep on the keyboard. Thank God I had brushed my teeth before or I wouldnīt had made it. I could hardly reach my bed. Almost crawled to it because I couldnīt walk on a straight line. It was funny. I am still dizzy but I intend going to the gym now. Itīs a very nice and relaxing sensation, all my anxiety has dissapeared. Its like floating on a cloud.

Good Luck. I have been on that ,my first and only so far, combo since Nov of 2005. Not many side effects and my CD4 Has gone from less than 200 up to 350 . My VL has gone from 48, 000 to less than 400. I take my truvada in the morning and my Sustiva at night. Hope yours work as well for you. Cristy

Thank you Cristy! Eldon, the gym went very well. I had more energy and spent 10 more minutes on the "rotex". It must be psicologycal but I feel stronger. Maybe because I am much more happy now.Coen, if everything continues as good as now I will be going to Amsterdam!I am starting to feel todayīs sustiva effect...I am elevating from the floor.

I'm on the same combo. Ans it has a weird effect on me: if I'm calm and relaxed... a "pass out" about 30 minutes after taking them, if I'm worried about "nothing" (like tonight)... it takes me ages to fall asleep... weird meds theses, no?

Hi Juan, sounds like you will be fine. My numbers have improved somewhat this year without meds, so I'm still debating about starting. It gives me some anxiety. I'll keep you in my thoughts, and would really appreciate hearing your experiences in starting.

Juan, good that you seem to be doing okay. I've never really had any of the dreams with the sustiva. I had a bit of insomnia at first and changed the meds to morning. Once in a great while I'll be a little groggy or dizzy, but overall I'm to the point where I really can't say I have any significant side effects. And of course the great news is that it is killing off that virus. I dropped from 66,000 to 600-something after one month, to 415 after two months, and undetectable on my latest at 4 months. And with you starting with such a great CD4 you are gonna do great! And of course, you never know if the headaches or the other little quirks are from the meds or something else. Luckily I expect that you won't be dealing with anything like that for long. It sounds like you are headed for smooth sailing. Continued good luck!

Thank you Pat! I took my meds last night and my headache was gone, so it wasnīt related to meds. This morning is even better. David, you are doing great on your treatment. Undetectable in 4 months! My Dr. expects me to be undetectable in six months.Today is the great day. Iīll be working 12 hours for the next three days and waking up early...Lets see how it goes.Thank you for being there.